diff --git a/components/board/BoardCanvas.module.css b/components/board/BoardCanvas.module.css
index 2417492..193b111 100644
--- a/components/board/BoardCanvas.module.css
+++ b/components/board/BoardCanvas.module.css
@@ -549,22 +549,6 @@
     color: var(--secondary-text);
 }
 
-/* Hints in corner with low opacity */
-.hints {
-    position: absolute;
-    bottom: 24px;
-    left: 24px;
-    display: flex;
-    flex-direction: column;
-    align-items: flex-start;
-    gap: 4px;
-    font-size: 12px;
-    color: var(--secondary-text);
-    opacity: 0.5;
-    pointer-events: none;
-    user-select: none;
-}
-
 /* Arrows SVG layer */
 .arrows_svg {
     position: absolute;
diff --git a/components/board/BoardCanvas.tsx b/components/board/BoardCanvas.tsx
index cd187e4..267a504 100644
--- a/components/board/BoardCanvas.tsx
+++ b/components/board/BoardCanvas.tsx
@@ -302,7 +302,6 @@ const BoardCanvas = ({ isVisible, docId }: { isVisible: boolean; docId: string }
             if (e.button !== 0) return;
             if ((e.target as HTMLElement).closest(`.${styles.card}`)) return;
             if ((e.target as HTMLElement).closest(`.${styles.zoom_controls}`)) return;
-            if ((e.target as HTMLElement).closest(`.${styles.hints}`)) return;
             if ((e.target as HTMLElement).closest(`.${styles.context_menu}`)) return;
 
             const container = containerRef.current;
@@ -448,9 +447,11 @@ const BoardCanvas = ({ isVisible, docId }: { isVisible: boolean; docId: string }
         };
     }, [selectionRect !== null]); // eslint-disable-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps
 
-    // Zoom with mouse wheel - centered on cursor
+    // Zoom with mouse wheel - centered on cursor.
+    // Attached as a native non-passive listener (see effect below) because React
+    // registers onWheel as passive, which makes preventDefault() a no-op and warns.
     const handleWheel = useCallback(
-        (e: React.WheelEvent) => {
+        (e: WheelEvent) => {
             e.preventDefault();
 
             const container = containerRef.current;
@@ -477,6 +478,13 @@ const BoardCanvas = ({ isVisible, docId }: { isVisible: boolean; docId: string }
         [scale, offset],
     );
 
+    useEffect(() => {
+        const container = containerRef.current;
+        if (!container) return;
+        container.addEventListener("wheel", handleWheel, { passive: false });
+        return () => container.removeEventListener("wheel", handleWheel);
+    }, [handleWheel]);
+
     // Zoom from buttons - centered on viewport
     const zoomFromCenter = useCallback(
         (zoomIn: boolean) => {
@@ -508,7 +516,6 @@ const BoardCanvas = ({ isVisible, docId }: { isVisible: boolean; docId: string }
             e.preventDefault();
             if ((e.target as HTMLElement).closest(`.${styles.card}`)) return;
             if ((e.target as HTMLElement).closest(`.${styles.zoom_controls}`)) return;
-            if ((e.target as HTMLElement).closest(`.${styles.hints}`)) return;
 
             // Clear selection when creating a new card
             setSelectedCardIds(new Set());
@@ -621,8 +628,8 @@ const BoardCanvas = ({ isVisible, docId }: { isVisible: boolean; docId: string }
         [isReadOnly, projectId, offset, scale, saveCards],
     );
 
-    // Right-clicking empty canvas opens a menu (record audio). Cards and arrows
-    // have their own menus, so bail when the click landed on one.
+    // Right-clicking empty canvas opens a menu (create card / record audio).
+    // Cards and arrows have their own menus, so bail when the click landed on one.
     const handleCanvasContextMenu = useCallback(
         (e: React.MouseEvent) => {
             if (isReadOnly) return;
@@ -631,8 +638,7 @@ const BoardCanvas = ({ isVisible, docId }: { isVisible: boolean; docId: string }
                 target.closest(`.${styles.card}`) ||
                 target.closest(`.${styles.arrow_group}`) ||
                 target.closest(`.${styles.context_menu}`) ||
-                target.closest(`.${styles.zoom_controls}`) ||
-                target.closest(`.${styles.hints}`)
+                target.closest(`.${styles.zoom_controls}`)
             )
                 return;
 
@@ -652,6 +658,29 @@ const BoardCanvas = ({ isVisible, docId }: { isVisible: boolean; docId: string }
         [isReadOnly, offset, scale],
     );
 
+    // Create a text card at the spot the canvas menu was opened.
+    const handleCreateCard = useCallback(() => {
+        if (!canvasContextMenu) return;
+        const { canvasX: x, canvasY: y } = canvasContextMenu;
+        setCanvasContextMenu(null);
+        setSelectedCardIds(new Set());
+
+        const newCard: BoardCardData = {
+            id: uuidv7(),
+            title: "",
+            description: "",
+            color: randomCardColor(),
+            x: isSnapping ? Math.round(x / GRID_SIZE) * GRID_SIZE : x,
+            y: isSnapping ? Math.round(y / GRID_SIZE) * GRID_SIZE : y,
+            width: 450,
+            height: 280,
+        };
+
+        const newCards = [...cardsRef.current, newCard];
+        setCards(newCards);
+        saveCards(newCards);
+    }, [canvasContextMenu, isSnapping, saveCards]);
+
     // Begin recording from the canvas menu; remember where to drop the card.
     const handleStartRecording = useCallback(async () => {
         if (!canvasContextMenu) return;
@@ -982,7 +1011,6 @@ const BoardCanvas = ({ isVisible, docId }: { isVisible: boolean; docId: string }
                 onMouseDown={handleContainerMouseDown}
                 onDoubleClick={handleDoubleClick}
                 onContextMenu={handleCanvasContextMenu}
-                onWheel={handleWheel}
                 onDragOver={handleDragOver}
                 onDragLeave={handleDragLeave}
                 onDrop={handleDrop}
@@ -1220,6 +1248,10 @@ const BoardCanvas = ({ isVisible, docId }: { isVisible: boolean; docId: string }
                             left: canvasContextMenu.position.x,
                         }}
                     >
+                        <div className={styles.context_menu_item} onClick={handleCreateCard}>
+                            <Plus size={16} />
+                            <p className="unselectable">{t("createCard")}</p>
+                        </div>
                         <div
                             className={`${styles.context_menu_item} ${recorder.isSupported ? "" : styles.context_menu_item_disabled}`}
                             title={recorder.isSupported ? undefined : t("audioUnsupported")}
@@ -1273,13 +1305,6 @@ const BoardCanvas = ({ isVisible, docId }: { isVisible: boolean; docId: string }
                         <Plus size={14} />
                     </button>
                 </div>
-
-                <div className={styles.hints}>
-                    <span>{t("hints.pan")}</span>
-                    <span>{t("hints.select")}</span>
-                    <span>{t("hints.create")}</span>
-                    <span>{t("hints.move")}</span>
-                </div>
             </div>
         </div>
     );
diff --git a/messages/de.json b/messages/de.json
index 6d5cdad..f391fad 100644
--- a/messages/de.json
+++ b/messages/de.json
@@ -474,12 +474,7 @@
     "sendToOutline": "An Gliederung senden",
     "duplicate": "Duplizieren",
     "delete": "Löschen",
-    "hints": {
-      "pan": "Mittelklick zum Schwenken",
-      "select": "Ziehen, um Karten auszuwählen",
-      "create": "Doppelklick zum Erstellen einer Karte",
-      "move": "Umschalt zum freien Bewegen halten"
-    },
+    "createCard": "Karte erstellen",
     "untitled": "Unbenannt",
     "titlePlaceholder": "Titel",
     "descriptionPlaceholder": "Beschreibung",
diff --git a/messages/en.json b/messages/en.json
index b1074da..81e3555 100644
--- a/messages/en.json
+++ b/messages/en.json
@@ -473,12 +473,7 @@
     "sendToOutline": "Send to outline",
     "duplicate": "Duplicate",
     "delete": "Delete",
-    "hints": {
-      "pan": "Middle-click to pan",
-      "select": "Drag to select cards",
-      "create": "Double-click to create card",
-      "move": "Hold Shift to move freely"
-    },
+    "createCard": "Create card",
     "untitled": "Untitled",
     "titlePlaceholder": "Title",
     "descriptionPlaceholder": "Description",
diff --git a/messages/es.json b/messages/es.json
index dc9f87e..7b8224d 100644
--- a/messages/es.json
+++ b/messages/es.json
@@ -473,12 +473,7 @@
     "sendToOutline": "Enviar al esquema",
     "duplicate": "Duplicar",
     "delete": "Eliminar",
-    "hints": {
-      "pan": "Clic central para desplazar",
-      "select": "Arrastrar para seleccionar tarjetas",
-      "create": "Doble clic para crear tarjeta",
-      "move": "Mantener Shift para mover libremente"
-    },
+    "createCard": "Crear tarjeta",
     "untitled": "Sin título",
     "titlePlaceholder": "Título",
     "descriptionPlaceholder": "Descripción",
diff --git a/messages/fr.json b/messages/fr.json
index 7944f2e..fd00873 100644
--- a/messages/fr.json
+++ b/messages/fr.json
@@ -474,12 +474,7 @@
     "sendToOutline": "Envoyer vers le séquencier",
     "duplicate": "Dupliquer",
     "delete": "Supprimer",
-    "hints": {
-      "pan": "Clic-milieu pour déplacer",
-      "select": "Glissez pour sélectionner des cartes",
-      "create": "Double-cliquez pour créer une carte",
-      "move": "Maintenez Maj pour vous déplacer librement"
-    },
+    "createCard": "Créer une carte",
     "untitled": "Sans titre",
     "titlePlaceholder": "Titre",
     "descriptionPlaceholder": "Description",
diff --git a/messages/ja.json b/messages/ja.json
index dfd4307..0816f9d 100644
--- a/messages/ja.json
+++ b/messages/ja.json
@@ -473,12 +473,7 @@
     "sendToOutline": "アウトラインに送る",
     "duplicate": "複製",
     "delete": "削除",
-    "hints": {
-      "pan": "ホイールクリックでドラッグ",
-      "select": "ドラッグでカードを選択",
-      "create": "ダブルクリックでカードを作成",
-      "move": "Shiftキーで自由移動"
-    },
+    "createCard": "カードを作成",
     "untitled": "無題",
     "titlePlaceholder": "タイトル",
     "descriptionPlaceholder": "説明",
diff --git a/messages/ko.json b/messages/ko.json
index 66a4200..921950d 100644
--- a/messages/ko.json
+++ b/messages/ko.json
@@ -473,12 +473,7 @@
     "sendToOutline": "아웃라인으로 보내기",
     "duplicate": "복제",
     "delete": "삭제",
-    "hints": {
-      "pan": "휠 클릭으로 드래그",
-      "select": "드래그하여 카드 선택",
-      "create": "더블 클릭하여 카드 생성",
-      "move": "Shift를 누르고 자유 이동"
-    },
+    "createCard": "카드 생성",
     "untitled": "제목 없음",
     "titlePlaceholder": "제목",
     "descriptionPlaceholder": "설명",
diff --git a/messages/pl.json b/messages/pl.json
index fa8714c..aeb2023 100644
--- a/messages/pl.json
+++ b/messages/pl.json
@@ -473,12 +473,7 @@
     "sendToOutline": "Wyślij do konspektu",
     "duplicate": "Powiel",
     "delete": "Usuń",
-    "hints": {
-      "pan": "Środkowy przycisk, aby przesuwać",
-      "select": "Przeciągnij, aby zaznaczyć karty",
-      "create": "Kliknij dwukrotnie, aby utworzyć kartę",
-      "move": "Przytrzymaj Shift, aby swobodnie przesuwać"
-    },
+    "createCard": "Utwórz kartę",
     "untitled": "Bez tytułu",
     "titlePlaceholder": "Tytuł",
     "descriptionPlaceholder": "Opis",
diff --git a/messages/zh.json b/messages/zh.json
index c2f1eeb..ea69177 100644
--- a/messages/zh.json
+++ b/messages/zh.json
@@ -473,12 +473,7 @@
     "sendToOutline": "发送到大纲",
     "duplicate": "复制",
     "delete": "删除",
-    "hints": {
-      "pan": "中键平移",
-      "select": "拖动选择卡片",
-      "create": "双击创建卡片",
-      "move": "Shift 自由移动"
-    },
+    "createCard": "创建卡片",
     "untitled": "未命名",
     "titlePlaceholder": "标题",
     "descriptionPlaceholder": "描述",